Mrs Eudean Ray

Wilma Eudean Riddell Ray Born 11-24-1933 Wilma Eudean Ray, 91, peacefully passed away Oct. 27 at her daughter's home in Knoxville, TN where she had resided for the past five years. Wilma was born and raised in Marydell, MS, and lived most of her life in Carthage, MS. Celebration of Life will be held at Trinity Baptist Church in Carthage, Saturday Nov 1. Visitation will be from 12 noon to 2 p.m., with services following at 2 p.m. Interment is at Carthage Memorial Gardens. For more than a decade Eudean managed the Carthage school cafeterias. At age 40 she went to nursing school where she earned a Licensed Practical Nursing degree and worked at Leake Memorial Nursing Home for a decade. Eudean was a loving mother, wife and grandmother, an amazing cook, and a gifted artist. She spent much time crocheting, often for others (100 warm hats for Samaritan's Purse to distribute in shoeboxes). Up until the last week of her life, though very limited physically, she enjoyed making dish cloths and giving them away to friends, family, caregivers and guests. She loved basketball after excelling at the sport in high school and avidly watched women's basketball, particularly Mississippi State, University of Tennessee, and Indiana Fever of the WNBA. For many years, she and her husband, Jerry Dean, worked together growing huge vegetable gardens (sharing with many) and making crafts. He did the wood working and she did the painting. Eudean was an active member of Trinity Baptist Church while in Carthage. She loved her church family and missed her ladies Sunday School class, led by Penny Rogers. She was pre-deceased by: husband Jerry Dean Ray; daughter Debbie Racer, grandson Danny (Bo) Sessums; great grandson Taylor Lifford; father "Jack" Riddell; mother Lillie Mae Plunkett (who passed away after giving birth to Eudean, along with a stillborn twin brother );Aunt Lois Ballard (who raised her for the first four years of her life) and Uncle Herbert Jordan and Aunt Molly Jordan (who raised her to adulthood); and a sister Fay Lindsay. She is survived by daughter Judy Ray Lee (Victor); granddaughters Kristi Sessums Brown, Jessica Lee, Caryn Lee, grandsons Danny Lee, Morgan Lee, John Matthew Lee; great-grandsons Trevor Thomas (Mikaela), Trey Kennedy, Trent Brown, Thomas Lifford, Kaiden Lee; great granddaughter's Tatum Lifford, Tori Lifford, Tricia Lifford; great-granddaughter Hailee Grace Houser. Arrangements handled by Wilcox Funeral Home. The service will be officiated by Pastor Dale Roger (Trinity) and Pastor Victor Lee (son-in-law). Pallbearers are Trevor Thomas, Trey Kennedy, Trent Brown, Luke Brown, Tommy Malone, and James Sistrunk. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Trinity Baptist Church Children's Fund, 208 Oakhill Drive, Carthage, MS 39051.

Mrs Eudean Ray

November 24, 1933 - October 27, 2025

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Mrs Eudean Ray

November 24, 1933 - October 27, 2025

What We Do

Flowers & Gifts

Contact Us

About Us

Resources

Obituaries

Grief & Healing

Contact Information

365 Days of Grief Support